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715: Tyler Takes Reid Wheeling & Jimmy’s High School Camping Reunion

715: Tyler Takes Reid Wheeling & Jimmy’s High School Camping Reunion

Snail Trail 4x4 Offroad Podcast Jun 11, 2026 95 min
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About this episode

Tyler and the crew mix off-road stories with community updates: Four Wheel Underground’s shift to “buy things all a cart,” plus On-X Off-Road trail planning and partner discounts. The show also runs through multiple giveaways (including an Isco APL 20 fridge) and Snail Trail merch/gift-box details. Later, Tyler arrives late to a nearly 20-vehicle wheeling run, runs “caboose,” and helps coordinate the convoy—then the group tackles obstacles like “soup bowl,” with plenty of camping reunion and safety talk in between.

Technical Too Afraid to Ask
Concept

a la carte system

"What's really cool about what they're doing right now is they're kind of changing the way the business is set in the sense that you get to now buy things all a cart. ... So if you want the upper frame bracket, you can just buy that."

It means you can buy suspension parts one-by-one instead of only buying a full package. So if you only need a specific bracket or joint, you can get just that.

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Part

upper frame bracket

"So if you want the upper frame bracket, you can just buy that."

The upper frame bracket is a mounting point on the vehicle’s frame where suspension links attach. On link-style off-road setups, the bracket’s position and strength directly affect how the suspension articulates over bumps and how securely it holds alignment under load.

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Part

lower link bracket

"If you want the lower link bracket because it has the integrated bump stop and it's super stout and it looks really good too."

This is the mount on the frame for the lower suspension link. If it has an integrated bump stop, it also helps limit how far the suspension can travel during big hits.

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Term

integrated bump stop

"If you want the lower link bracket because it has the integrated bump stop and it's super stout..."

A bump stop is like a safety cushion for the suspension. When the suspension compresses too far, it hits the bump stop to prevent damage and harsh metal contact.

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Part

cartridge joints

"He's also brought joints in-house. So now you can buy those all a cart from cartridge joints, rebuildable Johnny joints..."

Cartridge joints are the connection points inside your suspension links. They’re designed to be durable and, in many setups, rebuildable so you can service them instead of replacing the whole link.

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rebuildable Johnny joints

"So now you can buy those all a cart from cartridge joints, rebuildable Johnny joints, himes, offsets, all sorts of different ones."

Johnny joints are special suspension link connections that let the suspension move through bumps. If they’re rebuildable, you can replace the worn parts later instead of replacing the whole joint.

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himes

"cartridge joints, rebuildable Johnny joints, himes, offsets, all sorts of different ones."

“Himes” are probably Heim joints—small, strong link connections used in off-road suspensions. They help the suspension move while still handling heavy forces.

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offsets

"cartridge joints, rebuildable Johnny joints, himes, offsets, all sorts of different ones."

Offsets are parts that shift the suspension geometry a little. That can help the truck sit right and move through suspension travel without binding.

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Part

Aluminum links

"Do you know what else he brought in-house? Aluminum links. ... They now all come standard with aluminum links."

Aluminum links are the suspension arms/links made from aluminum. They can be lighter than steel, which can help the suspension respond better over bumps.

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Term

Lee Springs

"So if you want to move your Toyota from Lee Springs to a link suspension kit..."

“Lee Springs” sounds like the current spring setup on the truck. They’re talking about switching away from that setup to a link-based suspension.

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link suspension kit

"So if you want to move your Toyota from Lee Springs to a link suspension kit, check out four-wheel underground."

A link suspension kit is an upgrade that changes how the wheels are controlled using link arms. It’s meant to help the truck move better over rough terrain.

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Car

Wrangler Rubicon

"...e a part of and use to do some maintenance on the Rubicon Trail too. They have an elite partnership."

The Jeep Wrangler is a small SUV designed for off-road driving. It’s popular with people who take their vehicles on trails and do maintenance for those trips. The specific off-road ability depends on the setup, but it’s built to handle rough terrain.

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Car

Chevrolet Blazer

"...ota, husband out of Toyota. Um, one of them had a blazer. One of them had a Jeep."

The Chevrolet Blazer is a midsize SUV made for regular driving, and some versions can handle rough roads. People bring it up in off-road discussions because it can be a practical vehicle for trips and trails. What it can do off-road depends on the specific model and drivetrain.

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Car

Dodge Power Wagon

"One of them had a Jeep. One of them had a power wagon. You know, like we were all over the place and of..."

The Dodge Power Wagon is a tough off-road truck meant for hard work and rough terrain. It’s built to go where normal trucks struggle, especially for towing or hauling. People mention it because it’s specifically designed for off-road capability.

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Car

4Runner Forerunner

"Yeah. And so they have a first gen forerunner that they tick the kids wheeling on the Rubicon a..."

The Toyota 4Runner is a midsize SUV built to handle rough roads better than many regular cars. People talk about it for off-road trips because it’s designed for durability. The podcast specifically mentions an older “first gen” version that some owners use for trail driving.

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Term

airing up

"and they didn't have any gear for airing up and airing down. Oh. So I was like, yeah, I'll donate some gear to that."

“Airing up” means pumping your tires back to the proper pressure after you’ve lowered them for off-roading. It helps the tires handle correctly again for normal driving.

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airing down

"and they didn't have any gear for airing up and airing down. Oh. So I was like, yeah, I'll donate some gear to that."

“Airing down” means letting air out of your tires for off-roading. Lower pressure can help the tire grip better on uneven ground and feel less harsh.

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whitewater rafting

"They're like, we take them whitewater rafting, we take them rock climbing, we take them scrambling,"

Whitewater rafting is riding in a raft through rough, fast river water. It’s an outdoor activity that can teach people teamwork and safety.

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rock climbing

"They're like, we take them whitewater rafting, we take them rock climbing, we take them scrambling,"

Rock climbing is climbing up rock surfaces using your hands and feet. It’s usually done with safety equipment and instruction.

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ropes

"Camping, so they understand how to make fires responsibly and how to tie knots with ropes and use rope to do work and all, and how to make use of different outdoor tools and resources."

They’re talking about using rope for outdoor jobs. Rope can be used to secure gear or help with tasks around camp.

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tie knots

"Camping, so they understand how to make fires responsibly and how to tie knots with ropes and use rope to do work and all, and how to make use of different outdoor tools and resources."

They’re teaching kids how to tie rope knots. Those knots are useful for securing things and staying safe outdoors.

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chase light

"So anyways, let's start working on the chase light. I found our buddy on Instagram, his kids used to help out with more flight stuff."

A chase light is an auxiliary rear-facing light used in off-road driving so the vehicle behind can clearly see where the lead vehicle is braking or turning. It’s especially useful on trails where dust, distance, or uneven terrain can make standard brake lights harder to read.

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Term

carbon fiber 3d print things

"So I think you talked about this, the lumberjack engineering is this dude's Instagram account and he 3d prints a carbon, I believe carbon filter, carbon fiber 3d print things for fourth gen four runners."

Carbon-fiber 3D printing makes parts out of a stronger, more heat-resistant plastic mix. The idea is that the custom housing won’t warp as easily as cheaper 3D-print materials when it gets hot.

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PLA or PETG

"It's, it's a much higher heat rated than a PLA or PETG, which are kind of your, your more common 3d print filaments."

PLA and PETG are two common types of plastic used for 3D printing. They’re popular because they’re easy to print, but they can handle less heat than more specialized filaments.

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third brake light

"And so he has a chase light that you take out the third brake light from the fourth gen four runner and replace it with this whole housing that houses two Baja S2 pros brake light and a wolf box camera."

The third brake light is the extra brake light mounted higher up at the back of the vehicle. It’s easier for drivers behind you to notice, and in this setup it’s being swapped out for a custom light-and-camera housing.

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Baja S2 pros brake light

"that houses two Baja S2 pros brake light and a wolf box camera. Oh yeah. Perfect."

“Baja S2 Pro” is an aftermarket brake-light product. The speaker is saying the custom chase-light housing holds two of those brake lights so the vehicle behind can see you braking more clearly.

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wolf box camera

"that houses two Baja S2 pros brake light and a wolf box camera. Oh yeah. Perfect."

A Wolfbox camera is a dash-cam type device that records what’s happening while you drive. In this build, it’s mounted in the same rear housing as the extra brake lights.

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Term

tailgate

"You don't really need to cut any holes into the third brake light, the spoiler, the tailgate. You can run the wiring through the stock things."

The tailgate is the rear door on many SUVs and trucks that swings open to access the cargo area. In this context, it’s part of the routing path for wiring and mounting decisions for rear lighting.

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Alpha Rex headlight

"and then came up and punched a hole through the Alpha Rex headlight on the back of the tail light on the backside of it"

AlphaRex makes aftermarket lights. The speaker is describing how their specific light design has mounting flanges and openings, so you can route wiring through without breaking the light’s weather seal.

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wiring harness

"create my own wiring harness to go from a plug at the spoiler end to the lights up in the center of the spoiler and then connect all that together"

A wiring harness is a pre-organized set of wires with connectors that makes the electrical connections cleaner and easier. They built one so the spoiler-mounted lights could plug in and work the way they wanted.

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new switch panel

"So I ran it all into the new switch panel. So I have the chase lights on one of the buttons"

A switch panel is a place where you mount switches for accessories. They’re using it so the extra lights can be turned on with one button.

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strobe

"now on the switch panel. And if it's like, I don't know if I need to have it be a strobe, [4089.1s] the cool thing about that switch panel is I can set that one button to strobe and have it be a [4093.9s] strobe for if there's an emergency situation"

A strobe is a light that flashes very fast. It’s used to get attention quickly—like if you’re stuck on the side of the road and need other drivers to notice you.

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review mirror

"For the wolf box, it's the dash mount for the wolf box, [4120.2s] the review mirror, the display of it. And then he also has like a cord cover [4126.2s] for it that covers all the cords"

A review mirror in this context is a camera display that replaces or supplements the normal rearview mirror. It shows what the dash camera(s) are recording, so the driver can monitor behind the vehicle without relying on the standard mirror view.

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dash mount

"ordered [4113.5s] one of Lee's mounts. Yeah. For the wolf box, it's the dash mount for the wolf box, [4120.2s] the review mirror, the display of it."

A dash mount is a bracket that holds a device on the dashboard. It keeps the camera/display positioned correctly and more securely.

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cord cover

"the review mirror, the display of it. And then he also has like a cord cover [4126.2s] for it that covers all the cords that go into the top of the, the review display. [4132.0s] And at first I was like, I don't really care about that."

A cord cover is a protective trim piece that hides and shields wiring. It helps keep an install looking clean while also reducing the chance of wires getting snagged or abraded.

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Concept

hasty install

"And yeah, the wolf box wiring got cleaned up a little bit from our hasty install at Tech at [4165.8s] Trail Hero X."

A “hasty install” refers to a rushed installation process where components may not be mounted or wired as neatly or as compatibly as they would be in a planned setup. In this segment, it led to wiring needing rerouting and mounting adjustments later.

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Topic

Trail Hero X

"And yeah, the wolf box wiring got cleaned up a little bit from our hasty install at Tech at [4165.8s] Trail Hero X. Exactly. Yeah. That at Trail Hero X, they gave us like an hour to install [4171.5s] three cameras"

Trail Hero X is an off-road event where they were working on installs under a tight time limit. That’s why they had to redo some of the setup afterward.

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Term

OEM

"And to wolf boxes credit, they do sell a full replacement OEM thing. So [4208.1s] they make a full replacement thing that you can pull your review mirror off and put [4212.6s] a bracket to go on that metal plate that's on your windshield, right?"

OEM parts are made to fit like the original factory parts. In this case, it means the company sells an install kit that mounts the camera/review mirror in a more factory-like way.

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ditch lights

"[4270.0s] the ditch lights, like I'd never run ditch lights. I hate ditch lights because they obscure your [4276.1s] vision. They do. They just don't let you see things that are happening around you."

Ditch lights are extra lights you add to the front of an off-road truck. They shine toward the sides of the road/trail, but because they’re mounted low, they can get in the way of what you can easily see around you.

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A pillar

"[4282.0s] bugged out by my stupid damn A pillar. Cut this off. You know, it's like sometimes there's [4288.9s] been times when I'm like, gonna go out and like pull out into traffic or something."

The A-pillar is the vertical support at the front of the car near the windshield. It can block your view to the side, which is why someone might miss a car hidden there.

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Car

Toyota Tacoma

"[4353.9s] right? You know, we're talking, I mean, there, there are a few years, Fiona, the fourth Gen [4358.7s] forerunner and Charlotte, my third Gen Tacoma are a few years apart, but I mean, it's the same,"

The Toyota Tacoma is a popular off-road pickup truck. Here it’s mentioned because the truck’s hood height affects how well the driver can see the road and what’s around the front of the vehicle.

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Car

Toyota 4Runner

"[4353.9s] right? You know, we're talking, I mean, there, there are a few years, Fiona, the fourth Gen [4358.7s] forerunner and Charlotte, my third Gen Tacoma are a few years apart, but I mean, it's the same,"

The Toyota 4Runner is a rugged SUV that’s commonly used for off-roading. In this conversation, it’s mentioned because the hood height can change what the driver can see while driving.

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Term

TRD package

"[4365.3s] more or less the same thing. You know, so yeah, going from Bobcat to Charlotte, like I'm, [4370.8s] it's the hood's higher. I didn't, I specifically, I didn't want, well, I wanted the TRD package, [4377.2s] first of all, but I didn't want this hood sport because of, well, one of the main reasons was"

TRD is Toyota’s performance/off-road brand. A “TRD package” usually means a set of upgrades or options, and here it’s mentioned because the speaker is weighing those upgrades against how the hood affects seeing the road.

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E locker

"it didn't have an E locker. The second thing is I didn't want the hood scoop because it"

A locking differential helps your truck get traction when one tire starts slipping. “E locker” means it’s controlled electronically, so you can lock and unlock it when you need extra grip.

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hood scoop

"it raises up, it blocks more of my view. So I was like, no."

A hood scoop is an opening on the hood that helps bring air into the engine. On a trail, it can also block your view because it sits up higher than the hood.

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Lance water tank

"Saturday, I also flushed out the Lance water tank, the fresh water tank."

A Lance water tank is where your fresh water is stored for camping. Flushing it out means rinsing/cleaning it so the water system is fresh and not full of gunk.

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valve body

"Yeah, sounds like it. I do still really, really, really want to redo the valve body on Fiona. Okay. I do not like automatic transmissions for rock-crawling, man."

On an automatic transmission, the valve body is like the control panel that directs transmission fluid to make the gears/clutches work. Changing it can make the transmission shift and behave more predictably when you’re crawling over obstacles.

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torque converter

"I do not like automatic transmissions for rock-crawling, man. There's so many times when I would be either going downhill or something and all of a sudden torque converter is like, oh, not enough torque in the system."

A torque converter is what lets an automatic transmission connect the engine to the wheels using fluid. When you’re going down steep terrain or crawling, it can sometimes make the car feel like it’s not controlling the descent the way you expect.

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drivetrain

"And I'm like, stop disconnecting the fucking drivetrain on me, man. Yeah. So I'm very much, I think after I finish unfucking Fiona..."

The drivetrain is the set of components that deliver power from the engine to the wheels, including the transmission and transfer case. In off-road crawling, unexpected drivetrain behavior—like shifting to neutral or changing torque delivery—can break traction and upset control over descents.

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dual cases

"Any updates on Kermit? No, I dropped off the, I thought I had dual cases. I could have sworn I had dual cases."

In 4x4 setups, “cases” usually refers to transfer case(s), which split power between front and rear axles. “Dual cases” implies a configuration with two transfer cases (often for extra gearing or redundancy), which can be used in extreme off-road builds.

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rear case

"Apparently I just have a rear case. So I dropped off the rear case with Jason, my spare, and then Ryan has enough spare parts that we can build a front case for it."

A “rear case” refers to the transfer case assigned to the rear axle(s) in a multi-case 4x4 arrangement. In builds with more than one transfer case, each case can provide different gearing or range selection for crawling.

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front case

"So I dropped off the rear case with Jason, my spare, and then Ryan has enough spare parts that we can build a front case for it. Sure."

The front case is the transfer case that helps send power to the front wheels. If you’re building a multi-case 4x4, adding the front case is what completes the setup.

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frame stiffeners

"So I went on the frame stiffeners. Yeah. So I went on to Yoda, Yoda masters."

Frame stiffeners are reinforcement parts added to the truck’s frame. They help the frame stay strong and give you solid places to mount important off-road hardware.

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power steering box

"couldn't find a power steering box frame mount. Okay. So I went on the frame stiffeners."

The power steering box is the part that helps your steering wheel turn the wheels. Where it mounts on the frame can change how everything fits and how well the steering works.

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drag link

"and then I can set up the steering and what one is that I always mix all these up, but not the drag link. Okay. I can set up the drag link and everything."

The drag link is a steering rod that connects the steering system to the front wheels. If it’s not positioned correctly, it can cause steering problems or clearance issues when the suspension moves.

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clearances

"I think I need to put the body back on. Nice. And start checking clearances there. Checking clearances."

Clearances are the space between parts so they don’t hit each other. When you lift or rework suspension and steering, parts can move more than stock, so you have to check that everything still has room.

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shock hoops

"And then I'm going to have issues with the shock hoops and try to figure out that situation."

Shock hoops are the brackets/structures that hold the shocks in place. If they’re in the wrong spot, the shocks can interfere with other parts or limit suspension movement.

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shock eyelet

"because I just have the shock eyelet attaches more or less to some things that I tacked on to the top of the axle housing."

The shock eyelet is the metal loop on the shock where it bolts to the truck. Where that bolt point sits affects how the suspension moves.

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drive shaft

"And mainly it's something's out of balance. Whether it's the drive shaft or the tires. It's probably a drive shaft again. And I think it's the drive shaft too."

The drive shaft is the rotating shaft that sends power from the drivetrain to the axles. If something feels shaky or out of balance, the drive shaft is often where you look first.

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shocks

"I've been talking to Metal Cloak a little bit about their piggybacks and their shocks. And so I want to take the shocks off a bobcat and articulate it up and stretch it out and see what the max... See how much travel you actually get when you're not limited by your shocks?"

Shocks are what control how the suspension moves up and down. If they’re set up in a way that limits travel, the suspension can’t move as far as it needs to on rough trails.

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piggybacks

"I've been talking to Metal Cloak a little bit about their piggybacks and their shocks."

Piggyback shocks have a reservoir mounted on top of the shock body, which can help with heat management during repeated bumps. That can improve consistency on long off-road runs where shocks get hot.

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Brand

Metal Cloak

"I've been talking to Metal Cloak a little bit about their piggybacks and their shocks. And so I want to take the shocks off a bobcat and articulate it up and stretch it out..."

Metal Cloak is a company that makes aftermarket suspension parts for off-road vehicles. In this segment, they’re talking about shock options from Metal Cloak.

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travel

"And so I want to take the shocks off a bobcat and articulate it up and stretch it out and see what the max... See how much travel you actually get when you're not limited by your shocks? Yeah. Max and Min's."

Travel is how far the suspension can move up and down. More usable travel usually means the tires can stay in contact with the ground better over rocks and ruts.

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articulate

"And so I want to take the shocks off a bobcat and articulate it up and stretch it out and see what the max..."

Articulation is how much the suspension can twist and move when one wheel goes over a bump and the other doesn’t. It helps keep tires on the ground.

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six packs

"And then I can talk to Will over at Metal Cloak and talk to him about their six packs and see what might work for bobcat."

“Six packs” usually means a leaf-spring pack with six leaves. Changing the leaf pack can change how the vehicle rides and how it handles when you’re off-road.

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